Compare towns
West Bath vs Exeter vs Newcastle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Bath has the oldest population (median age 54.2).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Newcastle has the shortest commute (17 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | West Bath | Exeter | Newcastle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,863Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,913 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
49.4±7 27% above U.S. |
| West Bath and Newcastle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Newcastle and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Bath and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,333±$27k 28% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$89,868±$33kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Exeter and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,800±$102k 27% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$398,000±$41kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Exeter and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,112±$327Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,363±$81 4% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,516Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,256 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
5.8%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newcastle and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | West Bath Public Schools | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.